Brighton winger Zadok Yohanna will miss Nigeria’s second-leg 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Democratic Republic of Congo after sustaining an injury in the first leg.
The 19-year-old suffered the injury during Nigeria’s 2-0 defeat at the TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi. He limped off the pitch and has since returned to England for further medical assessment and treatment.
His absence is a setback for the Olympic Eagles as they prepare for the decisive return leg.
Nigeria must overturn a two-goal deficit to reach the final qualifying round of the competition. The team will need to score at least twice without conceding to keep their qualification hopes alive.
However, the absence of Zadok Yohanna means Nigeria will have to find another attacking option as they attempt to recover from the first-leg defeat.
The winner of the two-legged tie will face either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso in the final qualifying round.
Meanwhile, Egypt will host the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament will also determine qualification for the men’s football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Nigeria must now prepare for the return fixture without Zadok Yohanna as they seek to keep their Olympic qualification campaign on track.
